Lessons from the Anti-Israel camp

Israel stands at the forefront of innovation—excelling in medicine, technology, military strategy, culture, and agriculture. Yet, there is one critical battlefield where it lags behind: the fight for public perception on social media.

In today’s world, narratives are shaped online, influencing students and young minds who consume content uncritically. While Israel builds, innovates, and upholds moral integrity, its adversaries dominate the digital battlefield with deception and manipulation. Anti-Israel groups, including Arab propagandists and their allies, have mastered the art of disinformation, using every tool at their disposal to distort reality. One such tool, a “Palestinian remix” program, enables activists to splice together unrelated footage, stripping context to fabricate compelling but false stories.

Israel, meanwhile, fails to grasp the gravity of this media war. While external bias is a significant factor, an internal “fifth column” within Israel itself exacerbates the problem. Journalists, commentators, and even some government officials unintentionally reinforce hostile narratives, undermining their own country’s legitimacy.

Israel operates with integrity. When its soldiers err, the nation investigates and holds them accountable. It does not glorify violence or fabricate history. Yet, this very honesty is weaponized against it. Israel’s adversaries, unencumbered by moral constraints, distort facts, spread propaganda, and skillfully turn conflicts into public relations victories.

Perhaps the greatest battlefield in this war is language itself. Words shape perception, and too often, Israel’s own media and supporters unknowingly adopt terminology that favors its enemies. In a recent broadcast covering the release of hostages, an Israeli commentator referred to them as “prisoners” while calling Hamas terrorists “warriors” and “soldiers.” This subtle shift in language normalizes Hamas and minimizes the suffering of innocent hostages.

This issue is not limited to isolated mistakes. The widespread use of “West Bank” instead of the historical term “Judea and Samaria” erodes Jewish historical claims. Calling the land “occupied” rather than “disputed” paints Israel as a foreign oppressor rather than a sovereign nation defending its homeland. Even the term “settler” instead of “resident” reinforces the false notion that Jews are intruders rather than an indigenous people reclaiming their land.

Israel’s international supporters also fall into these linguistic traps. Many well-meaning advocates unknowingly adopt anti-Israel rhetoric. Even the term “Palestine” itself, imposed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to erase Jewish identity after the Bar Kochba revolt, is now used to delegitimize Israel’s very existence. When Israel’s own representatives fail to challenge these distortions, they allow falsehoods to take root.

Israel must reclaim control of its own narrative. It cannot afford to let internal voices weaken its position while adversaries manipulate the truth. The media, government officials, and everyday citizens must understand that every word matters. This is not merely a political struggle—it is a battle for survival. If Israel does not define its own story, its enemies will do it for them. The time to fight back is now.